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Introduction. Niemann-Pick disease type B is an autosomal recessive disease caused by sphingomyelinase deficiency resulting in sphingomyelin accumulation in macrophages of various organs. Visceral involvement includes spleen enlargement, thrombocytopenia, dyslipidemia, sphingomyelin deposition in lung and liver, and bleeding risk. This is a rare disease and literature data about pregnancy in this setting are scarce. We present two favorable pregnancy outcomes in a patient with Niemann-Pick disease type B along with the review of the literature. Case outline. At the time of the first intended pregnancy, the patient was 34 years old. She had an extremely enlarged spleen, mild restrictive pulmonary disorder, hyperlipoproteinemia type IIb, thrombocytopenia with impaired aggregation tests. Cesarean section was indicated. She was prepared for delivery with platelet concentrates and prophylactic use of antibiotic. In the 36th week of gestation a Cesarean section without complications was performed. The newborn?s anthropometric parameters were BW 2490, BL 47 cm, HC 32 cm, and Apgar score was 7/8. Infant?s development was normal. Three years later in the second wanted pregnancy the same examinations were done. The planned Cesarean section was done without complication after the same procedures, including prophylactic use of antibiotics and platelet concentrates, and healthy female child was born. Conclusion. A multidisciplinary approach in female patients who suffer from lysosomal storage disease such as Niemann-Pick disease type B is essential and a favorable course is possible despite all risks.

Introduction. Ecthyma gangrenosum is a rare skin disorder which commonly affects immunocompromised patients. Case Report. We report two hematological patients suffering from ecthyma gangrenosum. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from skin lesions of both patients, but bacteremia was present only in the first case. These two cases had different pathogenic mechanisms and outcomes. Conclusion. Early diagnosis and prompt combination antibiotic therapy are of utmost importance in the treatment of this condition. On the other hand, the underlying disease has a great impact on the outcome as well.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent lymphoma that responds well to rituximab+chemotherapy. We evaluated the prognosis and efficacy of immunochemotherapy in patients with previously untreated, advanced FL.REFLECT 1 is a multicentre, prospective study of 99 patients with previously untreated FL stage III-IV. All patients were treated with rituximab+chemotherapy x 6 cycles, plus 2 cycles of rituximab monotherapy. Clinical assessment was performed at baseline, after completion of the first 6 cycles of therapy and every 3 months from the end of immunochemotherapy to the end of the study period.Eighty-nine out of 99 patients with complete documentation were included. Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 61.6%, partial remission (PR) in 11.6% and progressive disease (PD) in 24.4% of the patients. Time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd year were 89.9, 72.7, 57.8%, and 94.2, 92,6 and 92.6%, respectively. The probability of achieving CR was significantly lower in the high risk group according to Follicular Lymphoma Prognostic Index (FLIPI) score. Expression of CD43 antigen had a significant impact on the probability of 2-year TTP and OS, and ECOG performance status had a significant impact on OS.Treatment with rituximab plus chemotherapy is effective in advanced stages of FL. Significant prognostic factors are FLIPI score for induction therapy outcome, CD43 antigen expression for OS and TTP and ECOG performance status for OS.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive type of lymphoma, potentially curable, with heterogeneous prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine prognostic significance of clinical, laboratory and immunohystochemical factors. The retrospective study was done in 50 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The following parameters were investigated: demographic (age, sex), clinical (time to diagnosis, B symptoms, clinical stage), laboratory (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, haemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, albumine), standard and revised international prognostic index, and immunohystochemical parameters, cluster designation 20, B-cell-2, and Ki67 expression. There were 20 females and 30 males, their average age being 54 (22-83) years. The majority of patients had advanced disease: B symptoms in 76%, III and IV stage in 78%, increased lactate dehydrogenase in 74%, high risk standard international prognostic index in 62% of patients. B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 expression was found in 57%, and high Ki67 in 62% of patients.Rituximab-Cyclophosphamide, Hydroxydaunorubicin, Vincristine, Prednisolone and Rituximab-Cyclophosphamide, Hydroxydaunorubicin, Vincristine, Etoposide, Prednisolone were conducted in 72% (36), and Cyclophosphamide, Hydroxydaunorubicin, Vincristine, Prednisolone and Cyclophosphamide, Hydroxydaunorubicin, Vincristine, Prednisolone-like treatment in 28% (14) of patients. The complete remission rate was 74%, and the partial remission rate was 9%. A significant difference in survival was found between low intermediate and high intermediate S-IPI risk groups, good and bad risk R-IPI, and patients with complete remission and patients with other treatment responses. The other parameters, including Bcl-2 and Ki67 expression, and type of treatment did not show significant influence on survival. The expected five-year survival was 69 %. Our results have shown that international prognostic index, and complete remission status have prognostic significance in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.